“The Francophone Student Federation (FEF) has urged Belgium's universities to postpone examinations scheduled for Wednesday or arrange alternatives due to heavy snowfall expected in the south of the country.
“The FEF has encouraged universities and colleges to anticipate the consequences of the forecasted inclement weather,” the federation said.
It believes this would allow everyone to sit their exams in proper conditions, without unnecessary risks, and urged Higher Education Minister Françoise Bertieaux to take steps to enable students to take their examinations.
Most universities are maintaining Wednesday's exams even if they are making allowances for the inclement weather.
The University of Liège (ULiège) confirmed to Belga News Agency that the examinations will proceed as planned. Students are advised to stay informed on weather updates. In the event of late arrival, teachers will exhibit leniency, ULiège said. “Students are also urged to liaise with their professor or faculty” if they are unable to attend, it added.
The Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) also informed Belga that Wednesday’s exams will go ahead. However, the university emphasised, “we have requested our professors to display magnanimity in case of a delay.”
Isabelle De Coster, press officer of the Catholic University of Louvain (UCLouvain), also confirmed that Wednesday’s session will continue as scheduled. “Students and lecturers have been called to make arrangements,” she explained to Belga. Nevertheless, teachers will exercise flexibility if there are late arrivals, and any postponement will be left to the judgement of the presidents of the board, she said.
For its part, the Brussels school of journalism and communication, IHECS, has not planned any adjustments, judging that “the students and staff members have had ample time to prepare for these conditions.”
Finally, according to RTBF, exams at UNamur will also proceed as scheduled, with lateness tolerance applied on a case-by-case basis.
